Stars lined up for Indian soccer league

NEW DELHI: Former international football stars including England's Robbie Fowler and France's Robert Pires are set to take part in a tournament in India playing alongside local talent, according to organisers.

The ageing footballers could earn up to $600,000 for playing in the seven-week tournament which is being run along the lines of cricket's Indian Premier League and is pencilled in for a February 25 start.

Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Argentina's Juan Pablo Sorin and Hernan Crespo, Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha and Spain's Fernando Morientes are also lined up, according to the Celebrity Management Group (CMG) which is organising the tournament with West Bengal's football association.

Foreign coaches including Englishmen Peter Reid, John Barnes and Colin Todd have been signed up to take charge of teams, with each of the six franchises based in West Bengal.

Once the team owners for the Premier League Soccer (PLS) tournament are finalised later this month, each of the players will be auctioned off, with the bidding process expected between February 10-12.

"The idea is to have one icon player and a top coach with each of the six teams," said CMG's Bhaswar Goswami.

"Television coverage will ensure this tournament will attract viewers across India even though it will be played in West Bengal. We are working out the details."

Teams will play each other twice on a home and away basis, followed by the semi-finals and the final, the organisers said.

Team owners will be allowed to spend a maximum of $2.5 million on buying players, who stand to earn between $100,000 and $600,000 in the first season, which will last seven weeks. (AFP)